Don't Let Go! You Got The Music In You!
Amazing....amazing.....AMAZING!....A-MA-ZING!....These past few days have just been...well..AMAZING!... I just for some reason can't find another word to describe it.. I mean i could find several but that one is just coming out so easily.
So let's see. I believe we left off after the night I went and saw Corpse Bride. Saturday...what happened Saturday? Oh yes. Worked the morning shift, came home, and tried to practice for my open mic. I was able to do about an hour and then was like...instead of writers block...it was like...trying to practice block. I think I had so much on my mind and was so bored that I just needed some fresh air to get out. I ended up going to hang out with Spencer (no for the millionth time...not psycho spencer...different one) We went to downtown Silver Spring to get coffee and just chatted a bunch about school and other things then went over to Austin Grill cause they had live music going on and the band was so great sounding. They had a violinist so it kind of reminded me of Dave Matthews. I seriously wanna learn how to play the fiddle everytime I hear a band like that. We got some Nachos and that was it. He payed for everything...kinda threw me off cause this wasn't supposed to be a date and he totally made it out to be, but whatever. I noticed some weird things that night though when he left the table...one i don't even feel like mentioning cause it still kind of weirds me out and i don't feel like talking about it...it's not bad it's just i dunno weird...maybe some other time or u can just ask me if u not have heard about it already. One thing that was interesting though was we got into the most in depth conversation about Religion. And something just struck me like lightning...and it was weird at the same time...I belived in God (that wasn't the stroke of lightning) and I found security in it....But...I don't think I like being Jewish anymore. It's not that I don't love the traditions but the community of people that I have seen who are Jewish have seemed so stuck up and more thinking about themselves then each other...even the Rabbi's. Don't get me started on some of the Rabbis I have seen who are just so not willing to help others when they are really in need. I have a good example of it but I don't want to feel pissed off cause I am in a great mood. But yeah I dunno...Just ...christianity more and more..or just other religions in general have seemed more appealing to me...not catholocism though. I feel from the exposure I have gotten from the community with christianity... I have felt more welcome and more like family even though I really wasn't belonging to that church or that religion. It makes me seriously want to go to some church services and see how I feel afterwards. I am not saying I am going to convert anytime soon...i still have to explore this stroke of lightning I have had but I am considering after I have done more research.
Anyway so that was one weird interesting thing. I then went back to Spencer's to watch Paranoia Agent....holy crap that Anime rocks and I need to watch it more! It is addicting but so cool! Like I can't even explain it all I can say is watch it. It's sort of like a mystery that keeps you guessing and trying to figure out what is going on. So now i am addicted to that...and all of a sudden now that I have discovered this anime i hear everyone talking about it... i am just like WTF?! Found out it has been on adult swim lately...why i did not know about that I will not know but oh well...it's cool. I left after 3 episodes cause I was getting very tired but all and all it was a pretty cool night at some points.
Sunday wasn't all too special. Work from 4 til 8 and then practice practice practice!
Monday...The big day....My first live performance ever. And I was nervous. I wasn't sure what to expect. I practiced for hours on end, before class and after class. I even tried writing a new song but of course it wasn't gonna be ready in time so in case of having to play it I would just improvise in the best way possible. I headed over to Linda's at around 7 or somewhere in that hour. Van and i hooked up the keyboard for me to practice. I was not used to the keyboard just cause im used to my baby grand...unfortunately they have not invented a button that will shrink the baby grand or grand pianos down to a suitcase size so u can carry it along with you to wherever u perform...that would be awesome though. Unfortuantely I also did not have a peddle to make the sound of the keys have more sustain, but at least it is something I can look at for next time. I did with what I had and really most of what I care about was if I got the notes right or if my voice sounded ok...if the piano didn't sound exactly like a real piano oh well I don't care, at least I was actually doing this. I got Linda to get her guitar and perform as well... it would make me feel less nervous. It's a good thing too cause we got there and were the only people who had come all night. Jen, Dave, Denise, Greg, Spence, Linda , and Van were all there to support me. It made me feel just that more amazing and I was just so happy to see them all again. I missed them so much especially Denise and Greg cause i don't even remember the last time I got to see them, so that was a major highlight of my night. I took a deep breath and finally got up there to do my stuff. I probably should have saved my first song for last but i guess i was thinking I wanted to start of with something I knew 100 percent I was confident in. Either way people seemed to love it. Hearing cheering coming from my friends kept me going, oh and the occasional "Do it." hehe. I played i think 5 songs... the covers I played were the Scientist and Coloblind. Colorblind was definately shaky cause I just remembered I could play that when i got there but I had not played it or sung it in so long, but hey whatever I went with it. I could have probably played Mad World but that is depressing hehe. The three songs I played were titled "You" , "March 11th" , and "Aftermath"...so it was a pretty good set. I am going to work even harder on a couple pieces...write some more and do another open mic night soon. Maybe not next Monday night but the Monday after. Now that I know what it feels like and what I could do to improve I am ready for another one and I am glad I finally did this because at least I am starting to try and get somewhere. I really hope everyone who came enjoyed it and I hope it was satisfactory for he most part. I promise and even better show next time but all and all i was happy and satisfied with everything I had done so far and I just want to thank everyone for coming out and supporting me and just being there for me this past week and helping me with getting set up for the open mic night and just everything. Thank you for just being there for me. I love you all so much and You couldn't possibly imagine how much u being there meant to me, so thank you all from the bottom of my heart!
We continued the fun celebrations by going to 7-11 and getting yummy food and cool batman playing cards (which ended up confusing us because the background was black and that just ...didnt...seem normal). Either way we came back to the apartment and just joked around and ate yummy food and just had a blast. We played May I again...that game has become addicting. I am surprised I got first place when we decided to end. I don't even remember what things made us laugh so freakin much that we almost were crying from laughter during the last round, but even if I remembered some of them they probably wouldn't sound humorous but i guess it is just one of those things where u have to be there in the situation to find it hilarious. But the point is we practically had gotten naturally high it seemed either from lack of sleep or i dunno, but we were just laughign non stop...but hey it felt great. We left around I think 3 am and headed home. Thank you Dave for the ride home. I appreciate it. So all and all I was happy with that night and was sad to see it end.
Today...AMAZING...It started off bad cause I overslept so I ended up missing voice and by the time i got to campus i was late for psych but oh well. Tap was pretty fun. I liked the music we danced to today. It was upbeat country music ....even though it was Shania Twain it was fun to dance to and It made me want to listen to more country. Afterwards I sat in the Theater lounge with friends awaiting our first rehearsal for Romeo and Juliet. Finally 5:30 rolls around and it is time for rehearsal. Let me just say I am so proud to be a part of such an amazing cast with such an amazing director (I really do like the word amazing don't i?) For many people in this cast it is their first play or first shakespeare or first everything. I think that is so great because we needed new blood and it makes us work even more to try and be one family rather than cliques. I discovered I am double casted. Not only am I Lady Montague, but I am one of the musicians. I guess the musicians are playing during the party scene or something. I was thinking oh ok I am playing Piano and the chorus is singing with us...supposedly that isn't the case. I went to Celia to see what she wanted me to do cause I figure if I am playing piano i wanted to know if there was a piece she wanted me to start learning. I figured I would play piano cause that is what I played at the audition. I also sang, but i figure musician means instruments involved. She said "Actually I want you to sing" I said oh really? and she goes "yeah I want you singing to guitar" the other musicians are guitarists and she said that she really really liked my voice and wanted me to be singing a song with them....if that means what I think it means then I will finally have my first solo ever on stage in a play! I AM SO FUCKING EXCITED!!!!!! Either way after getting our scripts and going over things half of us decided to go to Bennigan's for dinner. It was great cause Mike Way ,the guy who plays Romeo, is so sweet and made a comment about how in every play there have been cliques...and I agree with everything he said... basically we are an ensemble...Celia casted an ensemble and so we should be a family and to start off this family we should go out to eat after this. It's true though, I don't care who has more lines than who, or who is a "lead" and who "isnt"....Shakespeare plays are always ensembles. Everyone is working together to tell a story so we all should be equals and I seriously feel we are getting off to a great start and I am so excited for the finished product. After we were done we mingled and talked and Mike came up and gave me a huge hug and we were both like "I am so glad to finally be working with you in a play!" cause i had worked with him before but not actor to actor. He helped with my high school production of Much Ado About Nothing. We joked around as he went up to me and put his arm around me saying "Hi mom!" and I go "aww hi son!...You are so much taller than me" and he goes "Yeah I must have been painful to push out" I was like "oh please don't remind me" hahaha! I talked with the girl who plays Lady Capulet. This is her first play and she was really nice and just someone who u could tell wanted to be a part of this. She sat next to me at Bennigan's and we talked a whole bunch. I was just so happy to see people getting a long and no one really excluding anyone. We raised our glasses and made a toast to a great first rehearsal and a great show. Celia came and sat with us to eat as well. I love her company and not many directors I know come and hang out with the cast and really get into the conversations with us. It's absolutely wonderful. It was kids night at Bennigan's as well and so we all got glow Braceletts. That made us all real giddy kids. They were gonna send over the balloon lady as well. Considering it was a couple cast members birthdays a few days ago. I surprisingly didn't have enough space to eat a yummy desert... i usually always try and save space for either Death by Chocolate or White Chocolate chill out...oh well there will be other times. Jose got the best funky hat ever and I told him he had to drive home wearing that balloon hat. He said at that point he had no shame so he would do it and I was like SCORE! It was so hilarious. I also said that had to be the official hat of authority at rehearsals. Celia got some bling bling balloon Jewelry. The Lady made a diamond ring out of balloons. I was like holy crap I want that as my wedding ring! It was so cool! The evening came to a close shortly after that and we all gave hugs and kisses good bye to each other. I am just so excited and so looking forward to the next rehearsal and working on this play. This play should be so fucking awesome so i hope everyone will come out and see it. I came home and talked to so many people online and just researched stuff and did hw and was so happy I had to put on good dancing music....and then as I was cleaning up some things I hear a ring tone I had not heard in i don't know how long....He called me! He actually called me! That made me feel as giddy as I was 6 months ago which freaked me out but it made me feel so great cause one it meant he had thought about me and two it was like hey...he is making an effort too. I thought I had to be the one always calling but no he called me. He called to see how open mic went and how everything else with rehearsals were going and just everything and yeah....It made me feel so great to just talk to him. So yes that was a major highlight of my night. He called me! woot!!! I also got better advice to narrow down my search for a car. I am looking for either a Honda, Acura, or Toyota...so yes I will get on that soon and hopefully get my car in the next couple weeks...that is if my dad ever returns my phone calls...stupid jerk ...ah well. So yes...that was the past few days in short. I know i could say more but I should wrap things up cause it is late and I need to sleep, but I will write again soon. Love to all and thanks again to everyone for...well..everything. MUCH LOVE!
So let's see. I believe we left off after the night I went and saw Corpse Bride. Saturday...what happened Saturday? Oh yes. Worked the morning shift, came home, and tried to practice for my open mic. I was able to do about an hour and then was like...instead of writers block...it was like...trying to practice block. I think I had so much on my mind and was so bored that I just needed some fresh air to get out. I ended up going to hang out with Spencer (no for the millionth time...not psycho spencer...different one) We went to downtown Silver Spring to get coffee and just chatted a bunch about school and other things then went over to Austin Grill cause they had live music going on and the band was so great sounding. They had a violinist so it kind of reminded me of Dave Matthews. I seriously wanna learn how to play the fiddle everytime I hear a band like that. We got some Nachos and that was it. He payed for everything...kinda threw me off cause this wasn't supposed to be a date and he totally made it out to be, but whatever. I noticed some weird things that night though when he left the table...one i don't even feel like mentioning cause it still kind of weirds me out and i don't feel like talking about it...it's not bad it's just i dunno weird...maybe some other time or u can just ask me if u not have heard about it already. One thing that was interesting though was we got into the most in depth conversation about Religion. And something just struck me like lightning...and it was weird at the same time...I belived in God (that wasn't the stroke of lightning) and I found security in it....But...I don't think I like being Jewish anymore. It's not that I don't love the traditions but the community of people that I have seen who are Jewish have seemed so stuck up and more thinking about themselves then each other...even the Rabbi's. Don't get me started on some of the Rabbis I have seen who are just so not willing to help others when they are really in need. I have a good example of it but I don't want to feel pissed off cause I am in a great mood. But yeah I dunno...Just ...christianity more and more..or just other religions in general have seemed more appealing to me...not catholocism though. I feel from the exposure I have gotten from the community with christianity... I have felt more welcome and more like family even though I really wasn't belonging to that church or that religion. It makes me seriously want to go to some church services and see how I feel afterwards. I am not saying I am going to convert anytime soon...i still have to explore this stroke of lightning I have had but I am considering after I have done more research.
Anyway so that was one weird interesting thing. I then went back to Spencer's to watch Paranoia Agent....holy crap that Anime rocks and I need to watch it more! It is addicting but so cool! Like I can't even explain it all I can say is watch it. It's sort of like a mystery that keeps you guessing and trying to figure out what is going on. So now i am addicted to that...and all of a sudden now that I have discovered this anime i hear everyone talking about it... i am just like WTF?! Found out it has been on adult swim lately...why i did not know about that I will not know but oh well...it's cool. I left after 3 episodes cause I was getting very tired but all and all it was a pretty cool night at some points.
Sunday wasn't all too special. Work from 4 til 8 and then practice practice practice!
Monday...The big day....My first live performance ever. And I was nervous. I wasn't sure what to expect. I practiced for hours on end, before class and after class. I even tried writing a new song but of course it wasn't gonna be ready in time so in case of having to play it I would just improvise in the best way possible. I headed over to Linda's at around 7 or somewhere in that hour. Van and i hooked up the keyboard for me to practice. I was not used to the keyboard just cause im used to my baby grand...unfortunately they have not invented a button that will shrink the baby grand or grand pianos down to a suitcase size so u can carry it along with you to wherever u perform...that would be awesome though. Unfortuantely I also did not have a peddle to make the sound of the keys have more sustain, but at least it is something I can look at for next time. I did with what I had and really most of what I care about was if I got the notes right or if my voice sounded ok...if the piano didn't sound exactly like a real piano oh well I don't care, at least I was actually doing this. I got Linda to get her guitar and perform as well... it would make me feel less nervous. It's a good thing too cause we got there and were the only people who had come all night. Jen, Dave, Denise, Greg, Spence, Linda , and Van were all there to support me. It made me feel just that more amazing and I was just so happy to see them all again. I missed them so much especially Denise and Greg cause i don't even remember the last time I got to see them, so that was a major highlight of my night. I took a deep breath and finally got up there to do my stuff. I probably should have saved my first song for last but i guess i was thinking I wanted to start of with something I knew 100 percent I was confident in. Either way people seemed to love it. Hearing cheering coming from my friends kept me going, oh and the occasional "Do it." hehe. I played i think 5 songs... the covers I played were the Scientist and Coloblind. Colorblind was definately shaky cause I just remembered I could play that when i got there but I had not played it or sung it in so long, but hey whatever I went with it. I could have probably played Mad World but that is depressing hehe. The three songs I played were titled "You" , "March 11th" , and "Aftermath"...so it was a pretty good set. I am going to work even harder on a couple pieces...write some more and do another open mic night soon. Maybe not next Monday night but the Monday after. Now that I know what it feels like and what I could do to improve I am ready for another one and I am glad I finally did this because at least I am starting to try and get somewhere. I really hope everyone who came enjoyed it and I hope it was satisfactory for he most part. I promise and even better show next time but all and all i was happy and satisfied with everything I had done so far and I just want to thank everyone for coming out and supporting me and just being there for me this past week and helping me with getting set up for the open mic night and just everything. Thank you for just being there for me. I love you all so much and You couldn't possibly imagine how much u being there meant to me, so thank you all from the bottom of my heart!
We continued the fun celebrations by going to 7-11 and getting yummy food and cool batman playing cards (which ended up confusing us because the background was black and that just ...didnt...seem normal). Either way we came back to the apartment and just joked around and ate yummy food and just had a blast. We played May I again...that game has become addicting. I am surprised I got first place when we decided to end. I don't even remember what things made us laugh so freakin much that we almost were crying from laughter during the last round, but even if I remembered some of them they probably wouldn't sound humorous but i guess it is just one of those things where u have to be there in the situation to find it hilarious. But the point is we practically had gotten naturally high it seemed either from lack of sleep or i dunno, but we were just laughign non stop...but hey it felt great. We left around I think 3 am and headed home. Thank you Dave for the ride home. I appreciate it. So all and all I was happy with that night and was sad to see it end.
Today...AMAZING...It started off bad cause I overslept so I ended up missing voice and by the time i got to campus i was late for psych but oh well. Tap was pretty fun. I liked the music we danced to today. It was upbeat country music ....even though it was Shania Twain it was fun to dance to and It made me want to listen to more country. Afterwards I sat in the Theater lounge with friends awaiting our first rehearsal for Romeo and Juliet. Finally 5:30 rolls around and it is time for rehearsal. Let me just say I am so proud to be a part of such an amazing cast with such an amazing director (I really do like the word amazing don't i?) For many people in this cast it is their first play or first shakespeare or first everything. I think that is so great because we needed new blood and it makes us work even more to try and be one family rather than cliques. I discovered I am double casted. Not only am I Lady Montague, but I am one of the musicians. I guess the musicians are playing during the party scene or something. I was thinking oh ok I am playing Piano and the chorus is singing with us...supposedly that isn't the case. I went to Celia to see what she wanted me to do cause I figure if I am playing piano i wanted to know if there was a piece she wanted me to start learning. I figured I would play piano cause that is what I played at the audition. I also sang, but i figure musician means instruments involved. She said "Actually I want you to sing" I said oh really? and she goes "yeah I want you singing to guitar" the other musicians are guitarists and she said that she really really liked my voice and wanted me to be singing a song with them....if that means what I think it means then I will finally have my first solo ever on stage in a play! I AM SO FUCKING EXCITED!!!!!! Either way after getting our scripts and going over things half of us decided to go to Bennigan's for dinner. It was great cause Mike Way ,the guy who plays Romeo, is so sweet and made a comment about how in every play there have been cliques...and I agree with everything he said... basically we are an ensemble...Celia casted an ensemble and so we should be a family and to start off this family we should go out to eat after this. It's true though, I don't care who has more lines than who, or who is a "lead" and who "isnt"....Shakespeare plays are always ensembles. Everyone is working together to tell a story so we all should be equals and I seriously feel we are getting off to a great start and I am so excited for the finished product. After we were done we mingled and talked and Mike came up and gave me a huge hug and we were both like "I am so glad to finally be working with you in a play!" cause i had worked with him before but not actor to actor. He helped with my high school production of Much Ado About Nothing. We joked around as he went up to me and put his arm around me saying "Hi mom!" and I go "aww hi son!...You are so much taller than me" and he goes "Yeah I must have been painful to push out" I was like "oh please don't remind me" hahaha! I talked with the girl who plays Lady Capulet. This is her first play and she was really nice and just someone who u could tell wanted to be a part of this. She sat next to me at Bennigan's and we talked a whole bunch. I was just so happy to see people getting a long and no one really excluding anyone. We raised our glasses and made a toast to a great first rehearsal and a great show. Celia came and sat with us to eat as well. I love her company and not many directors I know come and hang out with the cast and really get into the conversations with us. It's absolutely wonderful. It was kids night at Bennigan's as well and so we all got glow Braceletts. That made us all real giddy kids. They were gonna send over the balloon lady as well. Considering it was a couple cast members birthdays a few days ago. I surprisingly didn't have enough space to eat a yummy desert... i usually always try and save space for either Death by Chocolate or White Chocolate chill out...oh well there will be other times. Jose got the best funky hat ever and I told him he had to drive home wearing that balloon hat. He said at that point he had no shame so he would do it and I was like SCORE! It was so hilarious. I also said that had to be the official hat of authority at rehearsals. Celia got some bling bling balloon Jewelry. The Lady made a diamond ring out of balloons. I was like holy crap I want that as my wedding ring! It was so cool! The evening came to a close shortly after that and we all gave hugs and kisses good bye to each other. I am just so excited and so looking forward to the next rehearsal and working on this play. This play should be so fucking awesome so i hope everyone will come out and see it. I came home and talked to so many people online and just researched stuff and did hw and was so happy I had to put on good dancing music....and then as I was cleaning up some things I hear a ring tone I had not heard in i don't know how long....He called me! He actually called me! That made me feel as giddy as I was 6 months ago which freaked me out but it made me feel so great cause one it meant he had thought about me and two it was like hey...he is making an effort too. I thought I had to be the one always calling but no he called me. He called to see how open mic went and how everything else with rehearsals were going and just everything and yeah....It made me feel so great to just talk to him. So yes that was a major highlight of my night. He called me! woot!!! I also got better advice to narrow down my search for a car. I am looking for either a Honda, Acura, or Toyota...so yes I will get on that soon and hopefully get my car in the next couple weeks...that is if my dad ever returns my phone calls...stupid jerk ...ah well. So yes...that was the past few days in short. I know i could say more but I should wrap things up cause it is late and I need to sleep, but I will write again soon. Love to all and thanks again to everyone for...well..everything. MUCH LOVE!